Login
Login

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction

{{Infobox award

| name = Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction

| awarded_for = Outstanding Music Direction

| presenter = Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

| country = United States

| holder = The Oscars (2024)

| website = {{url|emmys.com}}

}}

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction is awarded to one television series or special each year.

In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which are listed in alphabetical order. The years given are those in which the ceremonies took place.

__TOC__

Winners and nominations

{{legend|#FAEB86|indicates the winner}}

=1970s=

class="wikitable"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="30%" | Program

! width="30%" | Episode

! width="30%" | Nominees

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | 1970
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1970/outstanding-achievement-in-music-direction-of-a-variety-musical-or-dramatic-program |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| Kraft Music Hall

| align=center| "The Sound of Burt Bacharach"

| Peter Matz

| NBC

The Merv Griffin Show

| align=center| "Chuck Connors, Joey Heatherton, Buddy Greco and Jack E. Leonard"

| Mort Lindsey

| CBS

This Is Tom Jones

| align=center| "Mary Hopkins, Shelley Berman and José Feliciano"

| Johnnie Spence

| ABC

rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | 1971
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1971/outstanding-achievement-in-music-direction-of-a-variety-musical-or-dramatic-program |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Swing Out, Sweet Land

| Dominic Frontiere

| NBC

colspan=2| Hamlet

| John Addison

| NBC

The Merv Griffin Show

| align=center| "Big Band Salute"

| Mort Lindsey

| CBS

rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | 1972
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1972/outstanding-achievement-in-music-direction-of-a-variety-musical-or-dramatic-program |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

The Golddiggers Chevrolet Show

| align=center| "Fess Parker"

| Van Alexander

| Syndicated

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

| align=center| "Jean Stapleton and Mike Connors"

| James E. Dale

| CBS

rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | 1973
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1973/outstanding-achievement-in-music-direction-of-a-variety-musical-or-dramatic-program |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| The Carol Burnett Show

| align=center| "Anthony Newley and Bernadette Peters"

| Peter Matz

| CBS

colspan=2| Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

| Irwin Kostal

| NBC

The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters

| align=center| "Debbie Reynolds"

| Van Alexander

| Syndicated

rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | 1974
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1974/outstanding-achievement-in-music-direction-of-a-variety-musical-or-dramatic-program |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments

| Jack Parnell, Mitzie Welch and Ken Welch

| CBS

The Carol Burnett Show

| align=center| "The Australia Show"

| Peter Matz

| rowspan=2|CBS

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

| align=center| "The Sonny and Cher Years"

| Marty Paich

rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | 1976
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1976/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| Evening at Symphony

| align=center| "Central Park in the Dark/A Hero's Life"

| Seiji Ozawa

| PBS

colspan=2| Gypsy in My Soul

| Cy Coleman and Donn Trenner

| CBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1977
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1977/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music

| Ian Fraser

| CBS

Bronk

| align=center| "The Vigilante"

| Jacques Urbont

| CBS

colspan=2| The New York Philharmonic: Rafael Kubelik (Live from Lincoln Center)

| Rafael Kubelík

| rowspan=2|PBS

Previn and the Pittsburgh

| align=center| "Mozart as Keyboard Prodigy"

| André Previn

colspan=2| Sills and Burnett at the Met

| Peter Matz

| CBS

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 1978
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1978/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots

| Ian Fraser

| ABC

colspan=2| The New York Philharmonic with Zubin Mehta and Shirley Verrett (Live from Lincoln Center)

| Zubin Mehta

| rowspan=2|PBS

Previn and the Pittsburgh

| align=center| "The Music That Made the Movies"

| André Previn

colspan=2| The Second Barry Manilow Special

| Jimmie Haskell

| ABC

=1980s=

class="wikitable"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="25%" | Program

! width="20%" | Episode

! width="45%" | Nominees

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | 1980
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1980/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Baryshnikov on Broadway

| Ian Fraser

| ABC

colspan=2| Barry Manilow: One Voice

| Artie Butler

| ABC

The Big Show

| align=center| "Steve Lawrence and Don Rickles"

| Nick Perito, Joe Lipman, Angela Morley and Peter Myers

| NBC

rowspan=8 style="text-align:center" | 1981

! colspan="4"| Outstanding Music Direction{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1981/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}

style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Linda in Wonderland

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman, Billy Byers and Bob Florence

| CBS

colspan=2| The Magic of David Copperfield III

| Sid Feller, Norman Mamey and George Wyle

| CBS

Omnibus

| align=center| "Aretha Franklin, Princess Grace of Monaco and John Ritter"

| Alf Clausen, Jack Elliott and William Goldstein

| rowspan=2|ABC

colspan=2| Perry Como's Christmas in the Holy Land

| Nick Perito

colspan=2| Stand by Your Man

| Carl Brandt, Deane Hagen and Earle Hagen

| CBS

colspan="4"| Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Class{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1981/outstanding-individual-achievement-special-events |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Television Academy |access-date=April 18, 2020}}As a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominees did not meet the benchmark and no award was given.
colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors: A National Celebration

| Alan Barker, Zubin Mehta, Nick Perito and Michael Tilson Thomas

| CBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1982
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1982/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Night of 100 Stars

| Bill Elton, Elliot Lawrence, Lanny Meyers, Tommy Newsom, Jonathan Tunick and Torrie Zito

| ABC

colspan=2| Ain't Misbehavin'

| Luther Henderson

| rowspan=2|NBC

colspan=2| The American Movie Awards

| Allyn Ferguson

colspan=2| Shirley MacLaine... Illusions

| Peter Matz

| rowspan=2|CBS

colspan=2| Walt Disney: One Man's Dream

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman and Billy Byers

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1983
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1983/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Eubie Blake: A Century of Music (Kennedy Center Tonight)

| Dick Hyman

| PBS

colspan=2| Epcot Center: The Opening Celebration

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman and Billy Byers

| CBS

colspan=2| Ellington: The Music Live (Great Performances)

| Mercer Ellington

| PBS

colspan=2| Perry Como's Christmas in Paris

| Jon Charles and Nick Perito

| ABC

colspan=2| Sheena Easton... Act One

| Peter Matz

| NBC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1984
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1984/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The Screen Actors Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman, Billy Byers, J. Hill and Lenny Stack

| CBS

colspan=2| Marilyn Horne's Great American Songbook (Live from Lincoln Center)

| William D. Brohn, Paul Chihara, Jack Gale, Glenn Osser, Leonard Slatkin and Jonathan Tunick

| PBS

colspan=2| The Magic of David Copperfield VI

| Mauro Bruno and George Wyle

| CBS

colspan=2| Perry Como's Christmas in New York

| Nick Perito

| ABC

colspan=2| The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team

| Ray Charles and Jon Charles

| NBC

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 1985
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1985/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser, Billy Byers and Angela Morley

| NBC

colspan=2| Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration

| Tony Fox, J. Hill, John Rodby and Lenny Stack

| NBC

colspan=2| Night of 100 Stars II

| Bill Elton, Lawrence James, Elliot Lawrence, Lanny Meyers, Tommy Newsom, Glen Roven and Torrie Zito

| rowspan=2|ABC

colspan=2| Perry Como's Christmas in England

| Nick Perito

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 1986
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1986/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The 1986 Tony Awards

| Elliot Lawrence, James Lawrence, Lanny Meyers, Tommy Newsom, Glen Roven, Larry Schwartz and Torrie Zito

| CBS

colspan=2| Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman, J. Hill and Lenny Stack

| NBC

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Bob Alberti, Jon Charles, Allyn Ferguson, Peter Matz and Nick Perito

| rowspan=2|CBS

colspan=2| Kraft Salutes George Burns' 90th Birthday

| Peter Matz

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1987
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1987/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Broadway Sings: The Music of Jule Styne (Great Performances)

| Buster Davis, Don Pippin and Eric Stern

| PBS

colspan=2| A Carol Burnett Special... Carol, Carl, Whoopi & Robin

| Peter Matz

| rowspan=3|ABC

colspan=2| Liberty Weekend: Opening Ceremonies

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman, Ralph Burns, Alexander Courage, J. Hill and Angela Morley

colspan=2| The Perry Como Christmas Special

| Nick Perito

colspan=2| The 1987 Tony Awards

| Larry Grossman, Wally Harper, Elliot Lawrence, James Lawrence, Lanny Meyers and Torrie Zito

| CBS

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 1988
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1988/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman, Alexander Courage and Angela Morley

| ABC

colspan=2| Celebrating Gershwin (Great Performances)

| Michael Tilson Thomas

| PBS

colspan=2| Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

| Larry Grossman, Mark Hummel, Elliot Lawrence, James Lawrence, Peter Matz, Lanny Meyers, Tommy Newsom, Larry Schwartz, Don Sebesky and Torrie Zito

| CBS

Moonlighting

| align=center| "Cool Hand Dave, Part 2"

| Alf Clausen, Brad Dechter, George Gaffney, Hummie Mann and Don Nemitz

| ABC

rowspan=9 style="text-align:center" | 1989

! colspan="4"| Outstanding Music Direction{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1989/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=May 22, 2017}}

style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman and J. Hill

| NBC

Late Night with David Letterman

| align=center| "7th Anniversary Special"

| Paul Shaffer, Bruce Kapler

| NBC

colspan=2| Michelob Presents Saturday Night

| Marcus Miller

| Syndicated

Moonlighting

| align=center| "A Womb with a View"

| Alf Clausen, Brad Dechter, George Gaffney, Hummie Mann and D'Vaughn Pershing

| ABC

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

| align=center| "Kenny Rogers, Maureen McGovern and Geoffrey Lewis"

| Jack Elliott

| CBS

colspan="4"| Outstanding Music for Special Events{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1989/outstanding-music-composition-for-a-miniseries-movie-or-a-special-original-dramatic-score|title=Nominees/Winners|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=April 19, 2020}}As a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominees did not meet the benchmark and no award was given.
colspan=2| The 11th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts

| Bob Alberti, Jon Charles, Ray Charles, Mark Hummel, Dick Lieb and Nick Perito

| CBS

=1990s=

class="wikitable"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="25%" | Program

! width="20%" | Episode

! width="45%" | Nominees

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1990
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1990/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Julie Andrews in Concert (Great Performances)

| Ian Fraser, Billy Byers, Chris Boardman, Bob Florence, J. Hill and Angela Morley

| PBS

colspan=2| The 63rd Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti, Jack Eskew, Julie Giroux, Ashley Irwin, William Kidd, Morton Stevens, Peter Matz and Billy Byers

| ABC

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Nick Perito, Ray Charles and Jon Charles

| CBS

colspan=2| Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

| Glen Roven, David Michael Frank, Bruce Miller, Joe Curiale and Lawrence Schwartz

| ABC

colspan=2| The Songwriters Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary... The Magic of Music

| Elliot Lawrence, Jack Cornter, Marvin Laird, Jamie Lawrence, Peter Matz, Lanny Meyers, James 'Buddy' Skipper and Torrie Zito

| CBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1991
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1991/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards

| Ian Fraser, Billy Byers, Chris Boardman and J. Hill

| Disney

colspan=2| The 63rd Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti, Jack Eskew, Julie Giroux, Ashley Irwin, Dennis McCarthy and Marc Shaiman

| ABC

colspan=2| The Josephine Baker Story

| Ralph Burns

| HBO

colspan=2| The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

| Larry Grossman, Paul McKibbons, Torrie Zito and Jamie Lawrence

| rowspan=2|CBS

colspan=2| The 1990 Tony Awards

| Elliot Lawrence, Lanny Meyers, Torrie Zito and Jamie Lawrence

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 1992
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1992/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The 64th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti, Jack Eskew, Julie Giroux, Ashley Irwin and Hummie Mann

| ABC

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman, Billy Byers and J. Hill

| NBC

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Nick Perito and Ray Charles

| CBS

Late Night with David Letterman

| align=center| "10th Anniversary Special"

| Paul Shaffer and Bruce Kapler

| NBC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1993
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1993/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala

| Ian Fraser

| CBS

colspan=2| The 65th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Nick Perito

| rowspan=2|CBS

Sinatra

| align=center| "Part 1"

| Artie Butler

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles

| align=center| "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues"

| Joel McNeely

| ABC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1994
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1994/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Gypsy

| Michael Rafter

| CBS

colspan=2| The 66th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Bowl (Great Performances)

| Donald Pippin

| PBS

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

colspan=2| The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards

| Ian Fraser

| Disney

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1995
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1995/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Barbra Streisand: The Concert

| Marvin Hamlisch

| HBO

colspan=2| The 67th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

colspan=2| The 38th Pablo Casals Festival

| Krzysztof Penderecki

| A&E

colspan=2| The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards

| Ian Fraser

| Disney

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1996
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1996/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

| Glen Roven

| ABC

colspan=2| Bye Bye Birdie

| Irwin Fisch

| ABC

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| NBC

colspan=2| The 39th Pablo Casals Festival

| Krzysztof Penderecki

| A&E

colspan=2| Peter and the Wolf

| George Daugherty

| ABC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1997
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1997/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Centennial Olympic Games: Opening Ceremonies

| Mark Watters

| NBC

colspan=2| The 69th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas

| Bobby Lyle

| HBO

colspan=2| The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala: An American Journey

| Ian Fraser

| CBS

The Simpsons

| align=center| "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious"

| Alf Clausen

| Fox

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 1998
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1998/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 26, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The 70th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| Michael Crawford in Concert

| Ian Fraser

| PBS

colspan=2| Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

| Paul Bogaev

| ABC

The Simpsons

| align=center| "All Singing, All Dancing"

| Alf Clausen

| Fox

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

| align=center| "His Way"

| Jay Chattaway

| Syndicated

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 1999
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1999/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The Rat Pack

| Mark Adler

| HBO

colspan=2| The 71st Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| And the Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story

| Steve Tyrell

| ABC

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| Janet: The Velvet Rope

| Rex Salas

| HBO

The Temptations

| align=center| "Part 1"

| Daniel Carlin

| NBC

=2000s=

class="wikitable"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="30%" | Program

! width="30%" | Episode

! width="30%" | Nominees

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2000
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2000/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Annie

| Paul Bogaev

| ABC

colspan=2| E-Trade Super Bowl XXXIV Halftime Show

| Dan Stamper

| ABC

colspan=2| Heroes for the Planet Featuring Special Guest Charlotte Church

| Michael Andreas

| A&E

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

colspan=2| The Little Richard Story

| David Sibley

| NBC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2001
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2001/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Barbra Streisand: Timeless

| Marvin Hamlisch

| Fox

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

colspan=2| My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs (Great Performances)

| Paul Gemignani

| PBS

colspan=2| Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

| Paul Bogaev

| ABC

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2002
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2002/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Opening Ceremony Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games

| Mark Watters

| NBC

colspan=2| The 74th Annual Academy Awards

| John Williams

| ABC

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

| align=center| "Once More, with Feeling"

| Christophe Beck and Jesse Tobias

| UPN

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Elliot Lawrence

| rowspan=2| CBS

colspan=2| Ultimate Manilow!

| Steve Welch

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 2003
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2003/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The 75th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| Cher: The Farewell Tour

| Paul Mirkovich

| NBC

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| Meredith Willson's The Music Man

| Michael Kosarin

| ABC

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 2004
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2004/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Harry Connick Jr.: "Only You" in Concert (Great Performances)

| Harry Connick Jr.

| PBS

colspan=2| The 76th Annual Academy Awards

| Marc Shaiman and Harold Wheeler

| ABC

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2005
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2005/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| A Christmas Carol

| Michael Kosarin

| NBC

Broadway: The American Musical

| align=center| "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning"

| Matthias Gohl

| PBS

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| Genius: A Night for Ray Charles

| Rickey Minor

| CBS

colspan=2| The Little Prince (Great Performances)

| Rachel Portman

| PBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2006
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2006/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| South Pacific in Concert from Carnegie Hall (Great Performances)

| Paul Gemignani

| PBS

colspan=2| 78th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| Andrea Bocelli: Amore Under the Desert Sky (Great Performances)

| David Foster

| PBS

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Elliot Lawrence and Rob Mathes

| rowspan=2| CBS

colspan=2| The 59th Annual Tony Awards

| Elliot Lawrence

rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 2007
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2007/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The 79th Annual Academy Awards

| William Ross

| ABC

Dancing with the Stars

| align=center| "310"

| Harold Wheeler

| ABC

Scrubs

| align=center| "My Musical"

| Jan Stevens

| NBC

colspan=2| The 60th Annual Tony Awards

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2008
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2008/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Movies Rock

| Steve Jordan and Mark Watters

| CBS

colspan=2| The 80th Annual Academy Awards

| Bill Conti

| ABC

colspan=2| Barry Manilow: Songs from the Seventies

| Ron Walters Jr.

| PBS

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| The 50th Annual Grammy Awards

| Rickey Minor

| CBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2009
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2009/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 21, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Streisand: The Concert

| William Ross

| NBC

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

Dancing with the Stars

| align=center| "710A"

| Harold Wheeler

| ABC

colspan=2| The 51st Annual Grammy Awards

| Rickey Minor

| rowspan=2| CBS

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Rob Berman and Rob Mathes

=2010s=

class="wikitable"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="30%" | Program

! width="30%" | Episode

! width="30%" | Nominees

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2010
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2010/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 5, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony

| Dave Pierce

| NBC

colspan=2| The 82nd Annual Academy Awards

| Marc Shaiman

| ABC

colspan=2| Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas (Great Performances)

| David Foster

| rowspan=3| PBS

colspan=2| Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart

| David Downes

colspan=2| Fiesta Latina: In Performance at the White House

| Sheila E.

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Rob Berman and Rob Mathes

| CBS

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2011
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2011/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 5, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Harry Connick Jr.: In Concert on Broadway (Great Performances)

| Harry Connick Jr.

| PBS

colspan=2| The 83rd Annual Academy Awards

| William Ross

| ABC

colspan=2| An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Chaka Khan

| Rickey Minor

| NBC

colspan=2| Hitman Returns: David Foster and Friends (Great Performances)

| David Foster

| PBS

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Rob Berman and Rob Mathes

| CBS

colspan=2| 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

| Paul Shaffer

| Fuse

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2012
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2012/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 5, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Rob Berman and Rob Mathes

| CBS

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| Country Music: In Performance at the White House

| Steven A. Gibson

| rowspan=2| PBS

colspan=2| Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Legacy

| Bill Elliott

colspan=2| Seth MacFarlane: Swingin' in Concert

| Joel McNeely

| Epix

colspan=2| The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (Great Performances)

| Michael Tilson Thomas

| PBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2013
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2013/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 5, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The 66th Annual Tony Awards

| Elliot Lawrence

| CBS

colspan=2| Christmas in Washington

| Ian Fraser

| TNT

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Rob Berman and Rob Mathes

| CBS

colspan=2| The Oscars

| William Ross

| ABC

colspan=2| Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (Live from Lincoln Center)

| Rob Fisher

| PBS

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2014
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2014/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 5, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The Beatles: The Night That Changed America

| Don Was

| CBS

colspan=2| Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn (Great Performances)

| rowspan=2|William Ross

| PBS

colspan=2| The Oscars

| ABC

Saturday Night Live

| align=center| "Host: Jimmy Fallon"

| Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis and Eli Brueggemann

| rowspan=2| NBC

colspan=2| The Sound of Music Live!

| David Chase

colspan=2| The 67th Annual Tony Awards

| Elliot Lawrence and Jamie Lawrence

| CBS

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2015
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2015/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 5, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life — An All-Star Grammy Salute

| Greg Phillinganes

| CBS

colspan=2| Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas

| Matthew Sklar and Christopher Guardino

| NBC

colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Rob Berman and Rob Mathes

| CBS

colspan=2| The Oscars

| Stephen Oremus

| ABC

colspan=2| Peter Pan Live!

| David Chase

| NBC

colspan=2| Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Live from Lincoln Center)

| Alan Gilbert

| PBS

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2016
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2016/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 5, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton (Live from Lincoln Center)

| Danny Elfman

| PBS

colspan=2| Jazz at the White House

| John Beasley

| ABC

colspan=2| Sinatra: Voice for a Century (Live from Lincoln Center)

| Alan Gilbert

| rowspan=2| PBS

colspan=2| Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House

| Rickey Minor and Christian McBride

colspan=2| A Very Murray Christmas

| Paul Shaffer

| Netflix

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2017
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2017/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 14, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changed America

| Rickey Minor

| ABC

American Epic

| align=center| "The American Epic Sessions"

| Bernard MacMahon, Duke Erikson, Jack White and T Bone Burnett

| rowspan=2|PBS

colspan=2| Joshua Bell: Seasons of Cuba (Live from Lincoln Center)

| David Lai

colspan=2| Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees

| Rickey Minor

| CBS

colspan=2| Super Bowl LI Halftime Show Starring Lady Gaga

| Michael Bearden

| Fox

colspan=2| Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come

| Tom Scott

| NBC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2018
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2018/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 13, 2018}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Tony Bennett: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

| Gregg Field

| PBS

colspan=2| Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo

| Bruno Mars

| rowspan="2"|CBS

colspan=2|Elton John: I'm Still Standing –- A Grammy Salute

| Davey Johnstone

colspan=2| The Oscars

| Harold Wheeler

| ABC

colspan=2| Super Bowl LII Halftime Show Starring Justin Timberlake

| Adam Wayne Blackstone

| NBC

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2019
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2019/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 18, 2019}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| Fosse/Verdon

| align=center| "Life Is a Cabaret"

| Alex Lacamoire

|FX

colspan=2| Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul

| Rickey Minor

| CBS

colspan=2|Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé

| Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Derek Dixie

|Netflix

colspan=2| The Oscars

| Rickey Minor

| ABC

Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones

| align=center| "Part 1"

| Greg Phillinganes

| BET

Saturday Night Live

| align=center| "Host: Adam Sandler"

| Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis and Eli Brueggemann

| NBC

=2020s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
bgcolor="#bebebe"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="25%" | Program

! width="25%" | Episode

! width="35%" | Nominees

! width="10%" | Network

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2020
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2020/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 29, 2020}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| The Kennedy Center Honors

| Rickey Minor

| CBS

colspan=2| Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince

| Sheila E., Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

| CBS

colspan=2| The Oscars

| Rickey Minor

| ABC

Saturday Night Live

| align=center| "SNL at Home #1"

| Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis and Eli Brueggemann

| NBC

colspan=2|Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira

| Adam Wayne Blackstone

|Fox

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2021
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2021/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 14, 2021}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan=2| Bo Burnham: Inside

| Bo Burnham

| Netflix

colspan=2| Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry

| Aron Forbes

| Apple TV+

colspan=2| Celebrating America — An Inauguration Night Special

| Rickey Minor

| Celebrating America — An Inauguration Night Special was simulcast on multiple television stations simultaneously. The Emmys listed no individual network with this nomination.

colspan="2"|David Byrne's American Utopia

| Karl Mansfield

| HBO

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

| align=center| "Zoey's Extraordinary Goodbye"

| Harvey Mason Jr.

|NBC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2022
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2022/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 13, 2022}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan="2"| The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent

| Adam Blackstone

| NBC

colspan=2| 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors

| rowspan=2| Rickey Minor

| rowspan=3| CBS

colspan=2| 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
colspan=2| One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

| Michael Bearden and Lee Musiker

Saturday Night Live

| align=center| "Host: Jake Gyllenhaal"

| Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis and Eli Brueggemann

| NBC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2023
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2023/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 14, 2023}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan="2"|Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song: Joni Mitchell

| Greg Phillinganes

| PBS

colspan="2"|The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna

| Adam Blackstone and Omar Edwards

| Fox

colspan="2"|The Oscars

| Rickey Minor

| ABC

colspan="2"|2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

| Adam Blackstone

| HBO

Saturday Night Live

| align=center|"Host: Austin Butler"

| Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis and Eli Brueggemann

| NBC

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2024
{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2024/outstanding-music-direction |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=July 19, 2024}}
style="background:#FAEB86;"

| colspan="2"|The Oscars

| Rickey Minor

| ABC

Late Night with Seth Meyers

| align=center|"Episode 1488"

| Fred Armisen and Eli Janney

| NBC

colspan="2"|The 46th Kennedy Center Honors

| Rickey Minor

| CBS

colspan="2"|2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

| Adam Blackstone, Don Was and Omar Edwards

| ABC

Saturday Night Live

| align=center|"Host: Ryan Gosling"

| Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis and Eli Brueggemann

| NBC

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

References

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{EmmyAward MusicDirection}}

{{Primetime Emmy Award categories}}

Music Direction

Category:Television music awards